Phonographic apparatus



Jan. 5, 1943. J. ERW-OOD 2,307,030

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24. 194i 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 5,1943. J, ERWQOD 2,307,030

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, ,1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 5,1943. J. ERWOOD 2,307,030

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1941 5 Shee ts-Sheet 4 -u' a I B10 y it? Jan. 5, 1943. J. ERWOOD 2,307,030

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 5 1720622 orJosepfifiwaod Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEPHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Joseph Erwood, Chicago, Ill. Application January24, 1941, Serial No. 375,750

5 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographic record changers and moreparticularly record changers of the type in which the records are playedone by one in sequence from a stack of records.

As is well known, the mechanism heretofore used in phonographic recordchangers has been relatively complicated. The more complicated themechanism the more expensive it is to build,

and therefore, the greater the cost is to the consumer. Furthermore.certain record changers which are in usetoday leave much to be desiredbecause certain portions of the record changing mechanism arecontinuously moving even during the playing of a record, therebyincreasing the possibility of noise, increasing wear and making itnecessary to have carefully controlled adjustments to insure that thevarious part of the record changing mechanism will engage with movingparts thereof at the proper time. Some record changers also suffer fromthe disadvantage that several adjustments are necessary in order to playdiii'erent sized records. Others require a relatively large cabinet. Oneof the objects of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedtype of phonographic record changer which is compact, simple inoperation and inexpensive to build.

Another object of'this invention is to provide a new and improved typeof phonographic record changer in which the principal actuating membersof the record changing mechanism are idle while the record is beingplayed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved-phonographic record changer of the character described in whichonly a single manual adjustment is necessary in order to change from onesized record to another and which adjustment does not require a changein the blades that actually separate and cause the records to be broughtinto playing position.

A more specific object and feature of the invention is the provision ofa new and improved means for lifting the tone arm during the period whena record is being changed.

Still another specific object and feature of the invention is theprovision of a new and improved way of driving the record changerblades.

Another more specific object and feature of the inventionis theprovision of a new and improved mechanism associated with the recordchanger blades which is more positive in action and less I l kely to jamthan previously proposed mechanisms of this type.

Other obiects and features of the invention will be apparent byreference to the following description in conjunction withtheaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of the phonographic record changer madein accordance with this invention; 7

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the phonographic record changershown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plansectional view with parts broken away taken throughthe line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing the various parts of the recordchanger with the tone arm in starting position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to the view shown in Figure 3 but with thevarious parts of the record changingmechanism shown in the positionswhich they will occupy when the playing of the record has just beencompleted and the record changing mechanism has just begun to function;

Figure 5 is a view looking up from the bottom of Figure 2 taken throughthe line 5-5. of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the record changer blades showing theposition of these blades in supporting a stack of records while a recordis being played or when the record changing mechanism is not beingactuated;

Figure 6a is a cross section taken through the I line Ga-Ga of Figure 6;

Figure '7 is a view in perspective showing the position of the recordchanging blades when the record changing mechanism is in operation justafter a record has been dropped;

Figure 7a, is a cross section through line Ia-Ia of Figure 7;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken through the line 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional view taken through the line 9-9 ofFigure 4;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the lift cam and lift member as wellas the guide arm and guide cam which serve to lift and guide the tonearm during a record changing operation;

Figure 11 is a view in perspective of an eccentric driving mechanism foractuating the record changer blades;

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of the record changer blade shown inFigures 6 and 7, taken along |2l2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 13 is a view taken through line l 3-l3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a detailed cross section taken through the line I 4-H ofFigure 3;

Figures 15 to 18, inclusive, illustrate a modified form of construction.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus illustrated comprises acam carrier 2 which, as

shown, is preferably substantially horizontally disposed. Cam carrier 2is provided on its upper face with a lift cam which comprises anelevated cam path 4 extending substantially around said cam carrier andwith a curved depression 8 in a portion thereof. As shown in Figure 3,cam carrier 2 has a guide cam track 8 formed on the upper surfacethereof. A tone arm I8 is rotatively pivoted from a post I2 above saidcam carrier 2, as shown in Figure 2. Passing through post I2 is a liftmember or pin l4 engaging at its upper end with tone arm I!) and at itslower end riding on cam path 4, thereby causing tone arm III to beraised and lowered in response to variations in the elevation of thelift cam or cam path 4. Around the lift member or pin I4 is a sleeve l6which is also within post l2 and which is connected at its upper endinsuch a way that it rotates with the rotation of tone arm in and which atits lower end is connected with guide arm I8, the latter being shownfrom above in Figure 3 and in detail in Figure 10. Thus any rotation orswinging movement of the tone "arm l8 causes a rotation or swingingmovement of guide arm l8 and vice versa.

On the inner end of guide arm I8 is a guide cam roller 28 which isadapted to run in guide cam track 8, shown in Figure 3, while a recordis being changed. The cam carrier 2 is driven from a rotating turntableshaft 22 which extends beneath the turntable 24 and has mounted thereona pinion or driving means 26. Mounted on the periphery of cam carrier 2is a peripheral driving means 28 which is adapted to engage and to bedriven by pinion 28 during the record changing operation. The peripheraldriving means 28 may be either friction or a gear drive, or any othersuitable type of drive. In the particular embodiment of the inventionshown, peripheral driving means 28 is a rubber band or belt whichextends around the entire periphery of cam carrier 2 except for a gap 30shownin Figure 3. While a record is being played, as previouslyindicated, the driving means or pinion 26 is out of engagement with thefriction belt 28 and therefore the rotation of turntable shaft 22 is notimparted to cam carrier 2 and the latter remains stationary.

The rotation of cam carrier 2 is initiated in the following manner.Connected beneath pinion 26 is a pin or projecting member 32 whichrotates with pinion 26 and shaft 22. On the under side of cam carrier 2is aflixed a pawl 34 pivoted at point 33 which is normally pressedoutwardly by means of a spring 36 but which is held by a catch 36 hookedagainst a pin 48. The projecting member 32 and the pawl 34 are hereinreferred to as initiating members. When catch 38 is released from pin 40pawl 34 moves outwardly sufficiently far to enable projecting member orpin 32 rotating with pinion 28 to engage pawl 34 at point 42 therebycausing cam carrier 2 to begin to rotate and moving it sufficiently farto permit pinion or driving means 26 on shaft 22 to engage peripheraldriving means 28 on cam carrier 2. Once the rotation is started in thismanner it continues-by the continued engagement of pinion 26 andperipheral driving means 28.- A raised portion 4| on the upper face ofpawl 34 acts as a stop to prevent pawl 34 from swinging farther out thannecessary and also stops the movement of catch 38. i

The positions of the various portions of the mechanism just afterrotation begins are shown in Figure 4. As rotation proceeds pawl 34 isreset when it strikes against re-setting pin 44 and it is held in placeby the re-engagement of catch 38 with pin 48, the latter being in turnattached to pawl 34.

The catch 38 which is on the under side of cam carrier 2 is fixedrigidly to a shaft 46 extending through to the upper part of cam carrier2 and also rigidly connected on the upper side of cam carrier 2 to anarm 48 which is normally urged in a clockwise direction by means of aspring 50. Hence, catch 38 is normally spring pressed against pin 48. Onone extremity of arm 48 is an adjustable screw. 52. When the recordstops playing the guide arm i8 is approximately in the position shown inFigure 4 in which position it presses against screw 52 causing arm 48 tobe moved in a counterclockwise direction and'releasing catch 38 from pin48 thereby initiating the rotation of cam carrier 2, as previouslydescribed. Thus, when tone arm I0 is just beyond the dotted positionIlla, shown in Figure 1, the pawl 34 will be tripped and the cam carrier2 will begin to rotate, as shown in Figure 4.

Beneath cam carrier 2 is an eccentric 54, as shown in Figure 5, aroundwhich'is an eccentric drive 56 integral with an arm 58 connected to apitman 60 which serves to drive or move changer blades 62; 64, 66 and88.

Each set of changer blades is attached by means of a collar or othersuitable means to a shaft, changer blades 62 and 64 being attached toshaft 10 and changer blades 66 and 68 being attached to shaft 12. Themanner of this attachment is more clearly shown in Figures 6, 6a, 7, 7a,12 and 13. It will be observed that a lever connects an arm 16 which inturn is attached to shaft 12 with an arm 18 connected to shaft 18.whereby any movement imparted to pitman 60 by means of eccentric 54through arm 58 is transmitted in like manner through lever 14 to changerblades 82 and 64.

The eccentric 54 and cam carrier 2 are mounted in fixed relationship sothat the rotation of cam carrier 2 about its central axis on a shaftlikewise causes eccentric 54 to rotate about said shaft. A fixedrelationship may be maintained in any suitable manner, for example, bykeying the eccentric to the cam carrier or to a collar which forms apart of the underside of the cam carrier.

As will be observed in Figure 5, eccentric 54 is surrounded by a driv:member 56 and is free to movewithin said drive member. The relationshipbetween these two members may be maintained in any suitable manner. Forexample, as shown in Figures 8 and 11, an annular member 82 and a secondsimilar annular member 84 may be screwed or riveted or otherwiseattached to the upper and lower sides, respectively, of eccentric drive56. Members 82 and 84 are of. sumcient width to overlap eccentric 54. Inthis way eccentric 54 and eccentric drive 56 are held in movablerelationship with respect to each other. It will be understood, however,that any other convenient method may be employed maintaining thisrelationship. For example, the rim of eccentric 54 may be shaped so asto fit into a com plemental recess on the inner face of eccentric drive56 in such a way that eccentric 54 rides on a portion of arm 56 whichalso keeps eccentric 54 from moving downwardly. Upward movement may beprevented by means of a series of washers in the lower'face of eccentricdrive 56 overlapping the lower face of eccentric 54.

Referring again to Figures and 11, one of the features of the inventionshown therein may be termed a pressure release which comprises anelongated slot 88 in drive arm 88 and a plate 88 having a similar slot90. A bolt, stud or rivet 92, which is fastened to eccentric drive arm58, projects through slot 90 and is so constructed that plate 88 maymove back and forth guided by bolt 92 and slot 90. A spring 94 isfastened to bolt 92 at one end and to plate 88 at the other end in sucha way as to normally urge plate 88 against a bolt or other suitableconnecting member 98, which connects-arm 58 with pitman 80. Thetensionin spring 94 Should be sufficiently strong so that in normal operationthe plate 88 will not tend to give or recede as pitman 80 is moved byarm 58, but in the event that a record jams in the changer blades or iffor any other reason an unusual force is required to move pitman 60,then spring 94 will permit plate 88 to recede, thereby causing theconnecting member 88 to move in groove 88 in a direction towardeccentric 54 and preventing any damage to the mechanism or the records.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, another feature of the invention is theprovision of an outwardly extending cam surface 98 on cam carrier 2which is preferably above the rubber belt 28 or other drive means, asshown. In this outwardly extending cam portion is a recessed portion I00into which is adapted to fit a cam roller I02. Cam roller I02 is carriedby an arm I04 which is pivoted on a pin I06. The opposite end of arm I04is attached to a spring I08 which normally tends to press roller I02inwardly. .This inward movement is limited, however, by a set screw I I0which is normally so adjusted that cam roller I02 will strike againstthe raised cam portion 98 but not against the remainder of the peripheryof cam carrier 2, thereby preventing any .undue, wear either on rollerI02 or on the-periphery of cam carrier 2. Recess I00 and the slope ofcam portion 98 are preferably so constructed that the roller I02 entersrecess I00 rather sharply and leaves it more gradually. By enteringrecess I00 sharply, roller I 02 gives cam carrier 2 a final push whichis necessary to center gap opposite pinion or drive member 26. Byleaving recess I00 relatively gradually the starting of cam carrier 2during a record changing operation is made easier and the rolling of camroller I02 part way down the incline of cam portion 98 tends to aid thestarting movement. Thus it will be seen that this arrangement not onlyinsures that cam carrier 2 will be stationary during the playing of arecord, but it also causes gap 30 to be centered opposite pinion 26 andassists the action of pinion 32 against pawl 34 in starting the camcarrier 2.

Still a further feature of this invention is to be found in the mannerin which different sized records may be played with only a single simpleadjustment. In Figure 1 it will be noted that there is a slide button 2adapted to move in a slot II4. Movement of this button determines thepoint at which the tone arm I0 will be placed on the record. In theembodiment herein shown. when the button I I2 is in the positionillustrated in Figure 1, the tone arm I0 is set to play a 12- inchrecord. When the button H2 is moved to the opposite end of slot I4, itis set to play a 10-inch record. Button I I2 is directly onnected to alever I I6 as shown in Figure 3. Lever I I6 in turn is connected to anarm H8 at point I20. Ann I I8 is pivoted at point I22 so that anymovement of lever II. which is imparted thereto by button H2 istransmitted to arm H8 and causes the latter to move. Arm II8 contains aprojecting stop member I24 which is withdrawn from its position shown inFigure 3 when arm H8 is moved in a counterclockwise direction. When thisoccurs,-plate I28 becomes the stop member and the record changingmechanism will now play a 10-inch record. As shown in Figure 3, it isset to play a 12-inch record.

The position of stop members I24 and I26 makes it possible to play aselected size record merely by moving button 2 because of the fact thata pin I28, which is more clearly shown in Figures 8, 10 and 14, impingesagainst one or the other of these stop members. Pin I28 is fastened to astrip of spring metal I30 which in turn is fastened by means of a screw,rivetv or other suitable means I32 to a flanged member I34 disposed onthe under side of guide arm I8 and pivoted at point I36. Flanged memberI34 is preferably connected'at its opposite end I38, as shown in Figure10, to lift pin I4. It is not absolutely essential that the portion I38of flanged member I34 beconnected to lift'pin I4 as long as it is freeto ride up and down, but for positive action it is preferable that sucha connection be made, as, for example, in the manner shown in Figure 10,so that flanged member I34 must necessarily drop when lift member or pinI4 falls into recess When the record changin mechanism begins to operateas shown in Figure 4, the pin I28 is spring pressed upwardly againststop plate I28. As cam carrier 2 continues to rotate in acounterclockwise direction, lift member I4 rises out of recess Ii ontothe top of lift cam 4 and thereby causes flanged member I34 to likewiserise untilthe flanges thereof fit over guide arm I8. With continuedrotation of cam carrier 2 in a counterclockwise direction the cam roller20 on guide arm I8 moves along the internal cam 8. At the same time pinI28 is pressed upwardly by spring metal strip I30 against stop plate I26but as cam roller 20 continues to move along internal cam 8, pin I28moves over stop plate I26 in thedirection of stop plate I24.

At the same time the tone arm I0 is swinging outwardly and when itreaches a point in its outward swing directly above the point where itwould start to play a 12-inch record, the pin I28 passes over stop I24and the spring metal strip I30 causes pin I28 to move upwardly, as shownin dotted line in the cross sectional view in Figure 14 taken along theline I4-I4 of Figure 3, thereby preventing the tone arm I0 from going inan inward direction and directly setting the point at which the tone armwill eventually set down to play the record. At this time the cam roller20 is approximately at point I40, as shown in Figure 4, and is nowentering th closed portion of internal cam 8 thereby continuing the swng of tone arm I0 outwardly and keeping it outside of the record whilethe record changing operation is taking place.

When-the record changing operation is completed tone arm I0 begins tomove inwardly again as cam roller 20 reaches point I42 and the inwardmovement continues until lift member I4 reaches the recess 6 in lift cam4, at which point the tone arm begins to drop gradually on the record,

the rate at which it drops depending upon the slope or'incline of camrecess 6 shown in perspective in Figure 10. Just prior to this time orcontemporaneously, the roller 20 in cam track 8 beroller begins to rolldown along the edge of guide plate I44 and the latter begins to moveinwardly due to the pressure of spring I48. At the same time lift memberI4 is reaching the bottom of recess 6. A raised area I5I is provided tokeep roller 20 away from spring I48 in the event anyone turns theturntable backwards. When lift member I4 finally reaches the bottomofrecess 6, the stylus carried by the tone arm I0 is now on the record,guide plate I44 has been pressed back to position by spring I48; camcarrier 2 is stopped and the mechanism is in the position shown inFigure 3. As soon as lift pin II4 drops into the bottom of recess 6, asshown in Figures 3 and 10, the stop pin or detent I28 is pulleddownwardly so that pin I28 is no longer in the dotted position againststop plate I24 shown in Figure 14, and the guide arm I8 is now free tomove inwardly from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shownin Figure 4 while the record is playing. As soon as the position shownin Figure 4 is reached, th cycle is repeated and a new record is droppedinto position. If it is desired to play a 10-inch record, then by movingstop I24 out of the way by means of lever H6 and arm II8 the detent I28operates against stop I26 and permits the tone arm to set down on therecord at a point farther inward. To summarize, as shown in Figure 3,when a 12-inch record is being played the detent or stop I28 will lc-dgeagainst the projecting member I24 of arm I I8 to prevent inward movementof the tone arm beyond the initial grooves of the record. As previouslyindicated, however, arm H8 is pivoted around pivot I22 and when arm II6, actuated by button IIZ (Figure l), is moved to the right, arm II8will move around pivot I22 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby alsomoving the projectin portion or stop member I24. and permitting thedetent or stop I28 to move further inwardly until it lodges againstplate I26. In this latter position the tone arm I0 will be above theinitial grooves for a l0-inch record. It will be understood, of course,that the plate I26 and the pivot I22 are fastened to the motor board A.1

Turning to Figures 6, 6a, '1, 7a, 12 and 13, reference will now be madeto the operation of the record changer bladrs 62, 64, 66 and 68. Asillustrated, two pairs of blades are employed although three or morepairs may be used if desired. The idea of providing several pairs ofblades of this general type in order to support a stack of records andtoseparate and dispense these records one at a time into playingposition from the bottom of the stack is not in itself new, but thespecific type of mechanism employed for this purpose is believed to bean improvement upon existing or previously proposed mechanisms of thistype in that it causes more positive action and when employed inconjunction with the actuating mechanism previously described makes itpossible to dispense a stack of either 10-inch or 12-inch phonographicrecords into playing position 'without making an adjustment of therecord changer blades each time a stack of different sized records isused. In other words, the only adjustment necessary is the movement ofbutton II2 shown in Figure 1, the operation of which has been previouslydescribed.

In Figure 6 the record changer blades 66 and 68 are shown in thepositions which they occupy when another record is being played and whenthe record changing mechanism is not in operation. It will be observedthat the lower blade 68 is supporting a stack of records while the upperblade 66 is held outward away from the stack. The relationship of thetwo blades is such that blade 66 when the mechanism is operated, willpass inwardly at a point approximately between the lowermost record andthe next succeeding record. It will be understood that the other pair ofblades 62 and 64 occupy a similar relationship and what is said withrespect to blades 66 and 68 also applies to blades 62 and 64. When therecord changing mechanism is in operation, blades 66 and 68 moveclockwise from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown inFigure 7 so that the upper blade 66 passes between the lowermost recordand the next succeeding record, and in doing so serves to support theremainder of the stack of records while the lower blade 68, moving insubstantially fixed relationship with blade 66, moves away from thebottom of the lowermost record and permits s-aid record to drop. Therecord is guided while it falls by central shaft 22, shown in Figure 2,and the fall is broken to a large extent by the compression of the airbeneath the record.

Referring more particularly to Figure 6, the changer blade 68 isintegral with a sleeve I52 which fits around shaft 12. Blade 66 fitsloosely above blade 68 on shaft 12. At the top of shaft I2 is a collarI54 which limits the upward movement of blade 66. Running through shaft12 is a pin I56 which isadapted to fit into a recess I58 in the lowerpart of sleeve I52. A cross sectional view taken along the line 6a-6a ofFigure 6 is shown in Figure 611. Any rotation of shaft 12 is imparted tosleeve I52 and in turn to blade 68 by means of pin I56. Changer blade 65has any movement of blade 68 imparted to it by means of a pin, bolt orother pivoting member I60 which passes through the rear portion of blade66 in the manner shown in Figure 12. Pin I60 is mounted in an elementI62 which in turn is fastened to or is integral with changer blade 68.Element I62 is provided wit-h a recessed portion I64 which substantiallyprevents wobbling from side to side of blade 66.

It will be observed from Figure 12 that separating changer blade 66 isnot pivoted on shaft 12 but on pivot I60 due to the fact that it fitsonly very loosely around shaft 12. In fact the hole I66 ,in separatingchanger blade 66 through which shaft 12 passes is preferably more orless elliptical in shape, as shown in Figure 7a in order to insure thatblade 66 will pivot with a slight upward movement around post or pivotI60 rather than around shaft 12. A set screw I66 may be provided tolimit the movement of blade 66 if desired. Between blade 66 and blade 68is a pair of sloped members I10 and I12 sloping in opposite directions,member I10 being aifixed to separating changer blade 66 and member I12being affixed to stack supporting changer blade 68. The arrangement ofthese members is such that as blade 68 begins to rotate the slopedelement I10 attached to blade '66 begins to ride up the slope of elementI12 attached to blade 68 thereby causing blade 66 to rise graduallywhile it is rotating. As will be readily understood, the upward movementof blade 88 is made possible by the fact that it is pivoted relativelyloosely to pivot I80 and is associated with element I62 in such a way asto permit said upward movement without allowing substantial wobbling orside to side movement. In the event, therefore, that the records are ofdifferent thicknesses, as is the case with 10-inch and 12-inch records,or in the event that the records are warped the member 66, while rising,will gradually pass between the lowermost record and the next succeedingrecord. This parpreferably provided in order to enclose the top of themechanism.

When it is desired to remove records that have been played, the sleeveI52 is raised so as to clear pin I56. As soon as pin I56 is cleared bothblades can be swung out of the way of the records.

Each pair of blades is swung out of the way in this manner and theplayed records can then be removed. Thereafter each pair of blades isswung back into position and a new stack of records may be loaded onshaft 22. It is immaterial whether the records are all 10-inch recordsor all 12-inch records, because the apparatus will play either type ofrecord equally well, regardless of the difference in the thickness ofthe records, provided, however, that the slide button II2, shown inFigure 1, is in the proper position as previously described.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a manually operatedlever I18, shown in Figure 5. This lever may be controlled from asliding button similar to button H2, or in any other suitable manner. Inone end of the lever I18 is a slot I80 which engages with a pin I82 thatin turn is fixed to an arm I84. Arm I84 is fixed to a second arm I86which is adapted to engage a pin I88 on another arm I80, the latter armbeing a continuation of arm 48, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The purposeof this arrangement is to permit the record changing apparatus to bestarted at any time by manual operation. For instance, when a stack ofrecords is first loaded onto the record changing blades the movement oflever I18 will actuate arm I84 which in turn actuates arm I86, and thelatter in turn actuates arm I88, thereby causing catch 38, shown inFigures 3 and 4, to be tripped and releasing pawl 34 so that theprojecting member 32 catches against the edge of the pawl 34 and startsthe rotation of cam carrier 2 in the manner previously described.Likewise, if the user wishes to reject a particular record and playanother record, the movement of manually controlled lever I18 willaccomplish the result in a similar manner. Manually controlled lever I18is restored to position by a spring at point I82 which pulls arm I84against stop I9I, or in any other suitable manner.

No detailed explanation has heretofore been recognize the manner of theassembly from an examination of the drawings. In general, the variousmechanisms described are mounted upon two plates, namely, plate A, abovewhich is the turntable 24, and the record changer plate mechanisms B andC, as well as the tone arm I0 and the post I2. Also above plate A is thedrive D which rotates turntable 24 through a wheel E. This particulartype of drive mechanism is old and well known in the art and while thistype of drive mechanism is generally preferred from the standpoint ofthe present invention it would also be possible to drive the centershaft 22 directly from the motor instead of first driving the turntablewhich in turn drives the center shaft 22.

Below the plate A is the motive means F which in the case of the presentinvention is preferably an electric motor. The other principal means forholding the various parts of the mechanism in their positions is a lowerplate G. As shown in Figure 2, substantially all of the actuatingmechanisms heretofore described are held in place between plate A andplate G by means of bolts, studs or shafts. Inasmuch as a detaileddescription of these members would unnecessarily complicate theexplanation of the invention and would in any event be apparent to thoseskilledv in the art, no such description is believed to be necessary.

The operation of the automatic phonograph record changer will now bedescribed in detail. Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 8, a stack of recordsis placed in position on the record changer blade mechanisms generallyillustrated at B and C. At this time the tone arm I0 may be resting on apost II shown in Figure 2, or it may be in any other position. The leverI18, shown in Figure 5, is pushed inwardly thereby moving arm 48 anddisengaging catch 38 from pin 40. This starts the rotation of camcarrier 2 in the manner already described with reference to Figure 4. Itwill be understood that prior to this time the motor F is started by anysuitable means so that the shaft 22 is being rotated by turntable 24,and pinion 26, which is keyed to said shaft, is likewise rotating in thedirection of rotation of the turntable which in the present case isclockwise.

Let us assume that the tone arm III was initially in the position shownin full line in Figure 1, then the actuating mechanism for the recordchanger and for moving the tone arm out of the way while a record isbeing changed is in the position shown in Figure 3. In this position thetone arm is down, but as soon as cam carrier 2 begins to rotate, thelift member I4, as shown in Figure 8, will begin to ride out of thedepression 6 up onto the elevated portion of track 4, which runs aroundthe upper face of cam carrier 2. As lift member I4 rises it will raisethe tone arm I0 because the latter is pivoted'on a pivot I5. It willalso be recalled that tone arm I0 is capable of rotating or swingingaround a sleeve I6 mounted in post I2 and that sleeve I8 is attached toa guide arm I8 by means of a set screw I9 or any other suitable means,as shown in detail in Figure 10.

Guide arm I8 is provided with a guide roller 20. As the rotation of camcarrier 2 continues, guide arm 20 is guided into internal cam track 8 inthe top of the cam carrier 2. Thiscauses guide arm I8 to turn sleeve l6thereby swinging tone arm I0 in an outward direction to the position I0bshown in dotted lines in Figure 1. All of the time that cam carrier 2 isrotating, eccentric 54 is likewise moving and as it moves in eccentricdrive 58'it actuates arm 58 which in turn actuates pitman 68, as shownin Figure 5.

rating blade, moves in fixed relationship with the lower changer bladein each pair in the manner already described, thereby separating thelowermost record from the next succeeding record and at the same timesupporting the stack of records so that as each of the lower changerblades moves out from underneath the stack the lowermost record willdrop and the remainder of the stack will be supported by the upperchanger blades. At this point the eccentric 54 has reached its maximumdrive in one direction and the drive of pitman 68 is reversed aseccentric 54 begins to pull arm 58 in the opposite direction. Thereuponthe upper changer blades and the lower changer blades both move inreverse directions in substantially fixed relationship until theposition shown in Figure 6 is again reached. At this point the lowerchanger blades will again be supporting a stack of records and the upperchanger blades will be in position to separate another record from ,thestack when the actuating mechanism is again started. Also at this pointthe cam carrier 2 and the eccentric 54 cease to move as the gap 38 inthe cam carrier shown in Figure 3 reaches a point opposite pinion 26.The pinion 26 is now out of engagement with the rubber friction belt 28or other drive means that may be employed so that cam carrier 2 can nolonger rotate. The pin 32 is now projecting into gap 38 but cannot startthe movement of cam carrier 2 because pawl 34 is held out of the path ofpin 32 by meansof catch 38 and pin 48 in the manner already described.The record is now ready to play.

When the record begins to play, the lift member I4 is at the bottom ofdepression 6, as shown in Figures 8 and 10, and the position of all ofthe elements of the apparatus is as shown in Figure 3. The flangedmember I34 on guide arm I8 is down causing pin I28 to be pulled down, asshown in Figure 8. As the record plays, roller 28 moves from theposition shown in Figure 3 toward the center post 88 of cam carrier 2approaching the position shown in Figure 4. The remainder of the partsof the apparatus remain substantially as shown in Figure 3. The camroller I82 is in recess I88. The lift member I4 still remains down asshown in Figure 10. The pin I28 is down, as shown in Figure 8.

As soon as the record is completed the stylus traveling in the groovesat the end of the record causes tone arm I8 to move inwardly toapproximately position I8a at which point guide arm I8 strikes againstset screw 52 and moves arm 48 which in turn disengages catch 38 from pin48 thereby releasing pawl 34 and permitting the portion 42 of pawl 34,shown in Figure 3, to project into the path of moving pin 32. Thereuponpin 32, which is rotating clockwise in the same direction as the recordturntable, moves against pawl 34 and starts cam carrier 2 rotating in acounterclockwise direction. The position of the actuating mechanism isthen as shown in Fig- I ure 4. Cam roller I82 has moved out of camrecess I88 in the raised peripheral cam 98 and is now rolling down theincline, as shown in Figure 4, thereby assisting in the startingoperation. As soon as pinionv 26 engages with the friction belt 28 onthe periphery of cam carrier 2, or with other suitable peripheraldriving means, the rotation of cam carrier 2 about shaft 88 continues bydirect drive from center shaft 22. After the cam carrier 2 has moved ashort distance, pawl 34 strikes against post 44 which extends upwardlyfrom bottom plate G, thereupon pawl 34 is pushed inwardly and pin 48thereof is caught and held by catch 38. This occurs before the pin 32has completed one turn.

As cam carrier 2 continues to rotate, roller I82 is held away from theperiphery of the cam carrier by means of set screw II8 acting on arm I82which normally presses cam roller I82 inwardly due to the action ofspring I88. In this way cam roller I82 does not lie directly against theperiphery of cam carrier 2 and is not brought into action again until itleaves the projecting cam surface 88.

In the meantime lift member I4 has begun to rise out of depression 8thereby causing the tone arm I8 to rise from the record and tone arm I8is held in raised position as long as lift member I4 rides on theelevated portion of lift cam 4.

When lift member I4 is riding on top of lift cam 4 the flanged memberI34 which engages with lift member I4 at point I38 is pushed upwardlythereby causing pin I28 to be pushed upwardly but at this time pin I28is pressing against plate I28 and since plate I26 is solid at this pointnothing happens except that pressure is being exerted against pin I28 bymeans of the spring metal strip I38 which is attached near one end topin I28 and at the other end by means of a screw or rivet I32 to thelower side of flanged member I34, as shown in Figure 8.

As the movement of cam carrier 2 continues in a counterclockwisedirection, cam roller 28 on the end of guide arm I8 is guided against orinto cam track 8 and the stop I28 moves beneath stop plate I26 from thegeneral position shown in Figure 4 toward the general position shown inFigure 3. When the cam roller 28 is approximately at point I48, as shownin Figure 4, the stop I28 rides over the end of stop ,plate I24,assuming that the machine is set for playing a 12-inch record, or overthe end of stop plate I28 if arm I8 has been pushed back for playing a10-inch record in the manner previously described. In the latter event,the inward movement of the pin or detent I28 would take place somewhatsooner. In either event when this point is reached, the tone arm I8,although free to move outwardly is no longer free to move inwardlybeyond the record starting position.

The cam roller 28 now continues in cam guide track 8 causing the tonearm I8 to swing farther out into position I8b, shown in Figure 1, atwhich point a new record will be deposited by the record changer bladethrough the elements actuated by the eccentric 54 in the manner alreadydescribed. After the record has been deposited the cam roller 28 willbegin to move inwardly again at point I42. At this point the lift memberI4 is still riding on the top of cam 4 and hence the tone arm is stillraised, but thereafter the lift member I4 begins to gradually sink intothe recess portion 6 and the tone arm begins to drop gradually towardthe record playing position.

Since guide arm I8 and cam roller 20 cannot move any farther inwardlythan the position fixed by detent I28, the cam roller 20 will begin topress against spring pressed guide member I44 which is pivoted at pointI46 and normally pressed into the position shown in Figure 4 by springI48. This helps to maintain the position of guide arm I8 while the liftcam I4 is being gradually eased into the depression 6 and the tone arm Inow in the full line position shown in Figure 1 is being broughtdownwardly toward the record.

As tone arm I0 approaches the record, cam roller slides off the end I50of spring pressed member I44 and the needle touches the record andbegins to play when the position shown in Figure 3 is reached. At thesame ti-me, gap is opposite pinion 26, catch 38 is holding pin which inturn is holding pawl 34 out of the way of pin 32, and roller I02 hasmoved over the projecting guide surface 98 into recess I00 just at themoment that the pinion 20 has become disengaged from 'the drive belt 28.As roller I02 drops into recess I00 relatively abruptly it gives thefinal impetus or motion to cam carrier 2, thereby centering it andplacing it in the position shown in Figure 3. The apparatus is now readyfor another cycle of operations after the record has been played.Alternatively, if the user does not wish to play that particular record,lever I'IB may be moved inwardly thereby causing pawl 34 to be trippedand again starting the rotation of the record changing mechanism.

The apparatus described has relatively few moving parts, the actions ofwhich are simple and positive. The actuating mechanism for the recordchanging blades, including cam carrier 2 and eccentric 54, is stationarywhile the record is being played, as distinguished from commerciallyavailable devices of this type in which the actuating mechanismscontinuously rotate and operation of the record changer blades dependsupon the synchronization of certain engaging or connecting members withthe rotating members at a predetermined time. In such mechanisms itoften happens that if a predetermined engagement is missed for anyreason the rotating parts must continue to rotate a substantial numberof times before it is possible for the engagement to take place. In thepresent device, on the other hand, only one rotation of the cam carrier2 is involved.

The present type of apparatus provides a very simple mechanism forchanging from 10-inch to 12-inch records, or vice versa, without movingthe changer blades. The same rotative means is utilized to raise thetone arm and to swing it back and forth. Positive means are provided forcentering and. keeping the record changer actuating means stationarywhile a record is playing.

The apparatus may be used with any of the usual types of phonographicmechanisms regardless of whether the central shaft is driven by a motorthrough the turntable as herein described, or by direct drive. Simplemeans are provided to keep a record from breaking or to keep themechanism from'jamming in the event that a warped record jams againstthe changer blades. Simple means are provided to separate the changerblades while they are rotating during a record changing operation andthereby compensate for differences in the thickness of records, or forwarpagen The latter means include among other things-the pivoting of theupper or separatingchanger blade at a point back of the shaft carryingthe lower Ill changer blade, thereby permitting greater leverage andavoiding to a greater extent the possibility of jamming the upperchanger blades against the records.

The apparatus also provides for simplified means in starting the recordchanger actuating mechanism or in rejecting a record. The particularmeans for raising the tone arm which includes passing the lift member I4directly through the pivot I2 around which the tone arm l0 rotates, isbelieved to represent a substantial improvement. Furthermore, the slopeof the depression or recess 6 can be so regulatedthat the tone arm picksup twice as fast as it lets down on the record. This is accomplished byhaving a steeper slope on the pickup than when the tone arm is set down.The principle of varying slopes is also made use of in the recess I00'inthe raised cam 98. used. to start the cam roller I02 out of the recessI00 when cam carrier 2 begins to rotate while the slope when cam rollerI02 re-enters recess I00 is relatively steep. The eccentric drivethrough a pitman is also believed to be a substantial contribution tothe art because it permits the force to be exerted positively inactuating the record changer blades and makes it possible to have theblades move faster or slower, as the case may be, during certainportions of the record changing operation.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 15 to 18,inclusive, certain changes in construction have been made. In describingthis form of the invention, those parts which are similar to previouslydescribed parts will be given the same numbers. The View in Figure 15 istaken looking downward from a point just beneath the supporting platformA and hence, is generally similar to the type of view shown in Figures 3and 4. The turntable 24 is mounted above the platform A and the motor Fis mounted below in the same manner as shown in Figure 2. The number ofthe record changer elements I4, 16 and 18 is the same as that describedin connection with Figure 5. The eccentric drive is effected through anarm 58 in the same manner as described in connection with Figure 5. Thecam carrier 2 is constructed in the same general manner as previouslydescribed, being provided with an elevated cam track 4 around the outeredge and an internal cam track 8. The elevated cam track 4 has arecessed portion 6, as previously described, and the lifting of the tonearm is accomplished in the same manner as previously described. PortionI44 of the internal cam track 8 is pivoted around point I46 tofacilitate dispensing a 10-inch record onto the record turntable in themanner previously described. The movable track portion. I44 just clearsa fence or enclosure I5I whichprevents any damage to the mechanism incase the turntable is turned backwards. The general position of the tonearm I0 and of the mechanism is the same as that described in connectionwith Figure 3. In other words, the tone arm I0 is just ready to set downonthe edge of the record, as illustrated in the drawings. At this pointthe stop member I28, which is associated with guide arm I8, engages witha stop I24a, which is comparable to the stop I24 shown in Figure 3. Theparticu- T lar setting shown is intended to cause the tone arm tojset'down at'the proper point for playing a 12-inch record. In order to playa-10-inch record. the lever Him is moved in the direction of the arrow,thereby causing the element 811 In this case a slope of lesser degreeis,

to move around pivot I20a and permitting the stop I28 to engage the stopI26a instead of the stop I24a. In this way the tone arm I is allowed toproceed inward a further predetermined distance until it is opposite theposition at which a -inch record may be played. The principal differencebetween this construction and the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4is that in Figures 3 and 4 the stop I26 is a plate mounted on the frameA, while in the present construction the corresponding s'top I26a is notmounted on the frame but on the lever element II8a. It will beappreciatedthat any number of stops may be made merely by changing theshape of the lever I Iila. The lever I I8a is pivoted around point I22which is associated with frame A in the same manner as in Figures 3 and4. The general arrangement and construction of the guide arm I8 is thesame as previously described.

As shown in Figure 17, the guide arm I8 is connected to a sleeve elementl6 which in turn is connected to the tone arm I0 through an elementpivoted at point I5. Surrounding the sleeve element I6 is a post I2. Thepin I4 which serves to raise and lower the tone arm I0 is normallypressed downward by means of a flanged element I34, which is pivotedaround point I36. A spring, not shown, coiled around the pivot I36serves to impart the downward pressure. When the flanged element I34 ispulled downward, as is the case when the pin I4 begins to drop into therecess 6, the stop member I28 is also pulled downward and hence, can nolonger strike against stop member I24a or stop member I26a on leverII8a. However, when the pin I4 rides out of the recess 6, as it doesduring a record changer operation, then the flanged member I34 is raiseduntil it substantially presses against the I guide arm I8. The stop I28then presses against member I I8a and is urged in an upward direction bymeans of a metal spring I30. As soon as it reaches a point where itclears the member I I8a, the stop I28 snaps into place against eitherthe stop I24a or stop I26a. This point is shown by the cross-sectionalview in Figure 18 taken along the line I8-I8 of Figure 17.

A modification of the initiating mechanism is illustrated in Figure 16,wherein one of the initiating members comprises a plurality ofprojections 32a instead of a single projection, as shown in the previousdrawings, and the other comprises a pawl 34a which is similar to thepawl 34 previously described except for a slight difference in shape.The pawl 34a is normally urged in an outward direction by means of aspring 36 and is prevented from moving outward by means of a pin 40engaging a catch 38. One slight difference in the cam carrier is theprovision of a series of holes 200, 202 and 204. Through the hole 200there extends a pin 206 which is an integral part of the pawl 34a andwhich can be locked, as shown in Figure 15, by moving the lever 208 inthe direction of the arrow until the pin 206 is in the recess H0. Thepurpose of this mechanism is to lock the pawl 341: so that it can nolonger act as an initiating member for the cam carrier 2, In thisposition, therefore, the record changer no longer operates and theoperation of the phonograph is the same as if there were no recordchanger present.

. changer.

Through the second hole 262 there extends a scribed, in that themovement of the member I'I.8a in the direction of the arrow will causethe pawl 34a to be unlatched and initiate the operation of the recordchanger. This lever is therefore for the purpose of manual rejection incase the operator of the phonograph wishes to reject a recordbefore orduring the playing thereof.

The third hole 204 permits an extension or projection 2I4 to passdirectly through the cam carrier 2 from arm 48 and provides for anadjustable screw 5211, which is similar to screw 52 in the drawingspreviously described. When the arm I8 strikes against the screw 52a atthe end of the reproduction'of the record, the record changing operationbegins in the manner previously described, that is to say, the arm 48 ismoved around pivot 46, the catch thereby releasing the pin 40 causingthe pawl 34a to move outward and engage one of the projections 32amomentarily until the pinion 26 has engaged the peripheral drive means28.

The spring 2 I6 is for the purpose of urging the tone arm I0 inwardlytoward the record groove after it has been set down in playing position.The use of such a spring is a common expedient and is optional. The leafspring 2I8 is for the purpose of insuring that the arm I I6a will retainits position in case a 10-inch record is to be played. Leaf spring 220is for the purpose of insuring that the arm 208 will retain its positionin case it is not desired to operate the record The roller I02 in themodified construction shown in Figure 15 is mounted as a part of thehousing 220 through which the turntable spindle 22 extends. Thearrangement and construction of the roller I02 are slightly differentfrom its arrangement and construction in the previously describedapparatus, but the function and purpose are the same.

The present application is a continuation in part of my copendingapplication Serial No. 318,- 301, filed February 10, 1940, now PatentNo. 2,230,- 106, granted January 28, 1941.

It will be understood that certain variations and modifications may bemade in the apparatus described without departing from the principlesthereof.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a phonographic apparatus having a movable tone arm and a drivingmechanism to move the tone arm by raising it and lowering it from arecord and swinging it laterally while in a raised position, a mechanismto cause the tone arm to start to play a phonographic record of apredetermined size, said mechanism comprising a laterally extendingelement connected to and movable with the tone arm, a stop memberextending upwardly through a hole in said element, means associated withsaid element to raise said stop member through said element when thetone arm is raised from the record by said driving mechanism and isbeing moved laterally and to lower said stop member after the tone armhas set down on the record, a manual control means operativelyassociated with a plurality of stop members and means for causing saidstop members to engage with. the stop member on said tone arm elementand thereby to hold said element and said tone arm against furtherinward movement while said tone arm'is still in a raised position whenit reaches a predetermined playing position depending upon the size ofthe record to be played.

2. In a phonographic apparatus having a movarm to engage with aphonographic record at a predetermined point, said mechanism comprisinga guide cam, a cam actuated element guided by said guide cam andconnected to said tone arm to cause said tone arm to move laterallywhile in raised position, a flat manually controlled lever, a springpressed stop on said guide cam actuated element normally pressed againstthe flat surface of said lever while the tone arm is in its raisedposition during a record changing operation, and

- comprising a cam carrier carrying a guide cam track, a guide camactuated element guided by said track during the movement of said camcarrier and connected to the tone arm to cause the tone arm to swinglaterally, stop means on said guide cam actuated element, a pair of stopmembers adjacent said guide cam actuated element, one of said stopmembers being disposed farther out than the other with respect to thecenter of a record to be played and each corresponding to apredetermined playing position, each of said stop members being capableofalignment with said stop means on said guide cam actuated element butonly one of-said stop members being capable of engagement at anygiv'entime with said stop means thereby to prevent the inward movementof said tone arm after it has reached a predetermined record playingposition and while said stop means is engaged with one of said stopmembers, and yieldable means forming a part of said cam track, saidyieldable means retaining its normal position when one of said stopmembers is engaged with said stop means on said guide cam actuatedelement and yielding with the movement of said guide cam actuatedelement when the other of -said stop members is engaged with said stopmeans on said element.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which one of said stop membersis carried by a manual- 1y controlled lever.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which both of said stop membersare carried by a manually controlled lever.

JOSEPH ERWOQD.

